The first game was lots of fun. Both games were at 1:05, so it was a little tough on the kids but the kids were great and, of course, the Cardinal's won. But the second game is where we made the real effort to get the full spring training experience. We arrived plenty early. I purchased a ball and pen (figures I didn't have a pen on me) and Jason stood by the dugout, with Jackson, for close to an hour waiting....and waiting.....and waiting. All of the waiting paid off when David Freese (2011 World Series MVP) came over, scanned all the balls, hats, and anything else people wanted signed, and went straight for Jackson's little hand holding out his baseball (doing his best not to drop it). Only one or two other people were able to get his autograph before everyone was sent to their seats for the game to begin.
To top the experience off, the Cards were down 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th when Freese came up to hit a three run game winning homer!!! Cardinal's win 4-2!!!
We left the game with a couple t-shirts, a foam finger for Jackson (that's all he really wanted), a Cardinal's purse for Molly, and a pair of Cardinal's earrings that can only be purchased at spring training for me! Oh yeah, and a David Freese autographed baseball!!!!!!
Here are some photos from our wonderful trip. You can find more photos at www.picasaweb.google.com/themcginthys.
